#L]BP.ARY OF CONGRESS.! 

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WATSON G. SHEARS. 



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E A R L Y D E A D; 



COxNTAINING/ , , 



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BRIEF MEMOIRS 



OF SEVERAL ^UNDAY-SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO 
DIED IN 1846. 



Blest are the youthful dead, 

That sleep in Jesus now ; 
Though their dust is laid on the earthly bed, 

That must pillow every brow, 
It rests in hope, it shall rise again ! 
And mourners may meet their loved ones then. 



^' 



EDITED BY D. P. KIDDER. .^'Qp g^-.^ 






PUBLISHED BY LANE & fiPFEXT.^,^^\'0^ 

FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION OF THE METHODIST EFWcWlirfr 
* CHURCH, 200 MULBERRY-STREET. 

Joseph Longking, Printer. 



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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by 
G. Lane & C. B. Tippett, in the Clerk's Office of the District 
Court of the Southern District of New-York. 



• 



THE EARLY DEAD. 



I.— CATHARINE M. WILLIAMS. 

It has been truly said, that "the 
best days of Hfe are soon gone." 
Youth indeed is a dream of gladness, 
which comes but to vanish. It is 
sweet as a smile that perishes : it is 
bright and rapid as the arrows of God 
when he shooteth his lightnings in 
the heavens. It is like the bubble 
caused by the violence of the waves, 
which glitters for awhile in the sun- 
beam, and then breaks, and dissolves, 
and disappears. It is like the flower 
of the field or the garden, which 
blooms in the morning, sheds its fira- 



6 THE EARLY DEAD. 

grance at nooiij and at eventide is 
seen to shiver upon its stem ! ^' All 
flesh is grass ; all the glory of man 
as the flower of grass : — ^the grass 
withereth, and the flower falleth 
away." To-day we flourish ; to-mor- 
row we die. To-day we taste the 
sweets of pleasure; to-morrow the be- 
loved draught is dashed from our lips ! 
Happy is he who can say, in the 
review of life, '^ I have enjoyed the 
pleasures of spring ; I have endured 
the toils of summer; I have culled 
the fruits of autumn: — I am now 
passing through the regions of win- 
ter; and I am neither forsaken of 
God, nor abandoned by man ! I see, 
at no distant period, the dawning of 
a brighter day ; — the first of a spring 
that shall be eternal. It is ad- 
vancing to meet me. I hasten to 



THE EARLY DEAD. 



embrace it. Welcome, welcome, eter- 
nal spring !" 

These reflections have been sug- 
gested by the death of Miss Catha- 
rine M. Williams, — a young and pro- 
mising member of the Allen-street 
Methodist Episcopal Church in the 
city of New- York. She was the 
daughter of pious parents, whose de- 
cision of character and consistent 
zeal in the cause of Christ gave the 
most salutary effect to those instruc- 
tions which were inculcated upon her 
young heart. 

The case of our young friend 
formed an interesting contrast to 
those who take their morals and 
their religion from the temper of the 
times in which they live. The shame 
of appearing too religious has been 
said to proceed principally from the 



8 THE EARLY DEAD. 

fear of ridicule ; of which ridicule, 
unfortunately, all things are suscep- 
tible exactly in proportion to their 
dignity and grandeur. 

Our young friend learned, at her 
first entrance into life, the secret of 
estimating religion as the greatest 
ornament of human nature. Hence 
it was, at the early age of fourteen, 
that Catharine made an open pro- 
fession of faith in Christ. It was 
under the ministry of the Rev. J. 
Poisal, at the Allen-street church, 
that she obtained the knowledge of 
salvation by the remission of sins, 
and became a member of the Me- 
thodist Episcopal Church. 

From the time of her conversion 
to the period of her death she was 
decidedly attached to class-meeting, 
and to all the usages of the church. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 9 

Soon after she obtained the evi- 
dence of her acceptance with God, 
she was convinced, from reading Mr. 
Wesley's Sermons, of the duty of 
fasting; and accordingly set apart 
every Friday as a day of fasting and 
prayer, for the purpose of promoting 
her personal piety, and the spread 
of the Redeemer's kingdom in the 
world. This practice she observed 
with the strictest tenacity until called 
from the duties of the church militant 
to the rewards of the general assem- 
bly and church of the first-born in 
heaven. 

Never very communicative on any 
subject, — always modest and retiring, 
but firm and decided in her religious 
course, — she gained the confidence 
and commanded the respect of all 
who knew her. A more consistent 



10 



THE EARLY DEAB. 



model of youthful piety, exhibiting the 
lovely graces of the Spirit in such ma- 
turity, has not often been presented. 

To corroborate this view of her 
character we present the following 

REiMARKS OF HER SCHOOL TEACHER, 
MRS. MASON : 

Her general deportment exempli- 
fied, in an eminent degree, the power 
of divine love on the youthful heart, 
to bring into subjection to the obe- 
dience of Christ all its tempers and 
passions. 

She showed that she duly appre- 
ciated her time, and the privileges 
she was enjoying, by diligently ap- 
plying her mind to acquire that 
knowledge which was calculated to 
fit her for future usefulness. But 
her diligence in study did not hin- 
der her from seeking those graces 



THE EARLY DEAD. 11 

of the Holy Spirit which made her 
wise unto salvation. Her Bible was 
not only her closet companion, but 
often, in the intervals of study, while 
her classmates were engaged in pas- 
time, she might be seen perusing its 
sacred pages. She was not ashamed 
to confess Christ before her young 
companions, though naturally very 
modest and retiring. While her faith- 
ful admonitions might sometimes re- 
press their frivolity, her cheerful and 
affectionate manners could not fail to 
win their love, and to lead them to 
admire the religion she professed. 

Her school exercises, however in- 
teresting, were never made an excuse 
for neglecting Christian duties. The 
time of her class meeting was al- 
ways remembered ; and her teacher 
was reminded of it by a respectful 



12 THE EARLY DEAD. 

request that her recitations might not 
prevent her attendance at class. 

Frequently has her teacher, in her 
absence, recommended her example 
to the school, as that of a truly con- 
sistent young Christian. 

So consistent a Christian course 
could not fail to terminate in a peace- 
ful and happy death. 

A flower that ^s offer'd in the bud 
Is no vain sacrifice. 

M. W. Mason. 

Feb. 1st, 1846. 

HER TRIUMPHANT DEATH. 

She was taken sick with the bilious 
remitting fever on the 31st of Decem- 
ber, 1845, which prostrated her in 
three days so much that she could 
seldom be heard to speak above a 
whisper. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 13 

Although her sufferings were se- 
vere, there was not a murmur heard 
to escape her Hps; but frequently 
you might hear her in a whisper say- 
ing, ^'Blessed Redeemer! precious 
Saviour !" 

On the eighth day the fever turned 
to the congestive, which deprived her 
of her reason until the eleventh day, 
when she became quiet again. Her 
parents being conscious that her rea- 
son had returned, her father inquired 
of her if she knew who was in the 
room with them. She replied, it was 
Augustus ; saying that Augustus was 
the best of brothers, and Josephine 
was a good sister; but Jesus was 
better than both, — and then began 
to sing, — 

There 's nothing here deserves my joy, — 
There 's nothing like my God. 



14 THE EARLY DEAD. 

Here her voice failed her ; but you 
might hear her praising the Lord in 
a whisper. The day after this, as 
her mother entered the room, she 
said, ^^ Mother, I trust in the Lord." 
The day following, observing her 
father walking to and fro, she said, 
" O father, do not grieve ! the Lord 
will do what is right." Then in a 
whisper you could hear her again 
praising the Lord. She had a great 
desire to see the preachers, — also her 
leader and classmates ; but the phy- 
sicians had strictly forbidden any per- 
son being admitted in her room. 

On the morning of the 17th Ja- 
nuary brother Seney coming to in- 
quire after her, was admitted to her 
room. Although she had not spoken 
a loud word for some time, as she 
heard his voice she said, ^^ Brother 



THE EARLY DEAD. 15 

Seney !" And he going to the bed- 
side, inquired of her if her mind was 
at peace; she repUed, ''Yes, it is." 
He requested her not to say any 
more ; that was all he wanted to 
know. 

She was too weak to converse 
after this. She remained quiet for 
about two hours, when she began to 
shout, and tried to talk. But her 
expressions were not distinct enough 
to be understood ; yet it was clearly 
seen that she was triumphing over 
death. This triumph lasted for some 
time. After this she remained quiet 
for about two hours more. Then a 
scene occurred that can never be 
described. Her countenance shone, 
and her voice came clear, and stronger 
than ever. Her father was sitting by 
the side of the bed: — she, looking 



16 THE EARLY DEAD. 

him in the face, cried, ^^ Happy! 
happy! happy!" He asked her if 
she was very happy. She rephed, 
"O yes, father, I am happy!" and 
cried out, ^^ Arise and shine, for thy 
Hght is come ; and the glory of the 
Lord has risen upon me! Hallelu- 
jah, hallelujah, hallelujah, praise the 
Lord! I see my Saviour standing 
ready to receive me in his arms. 
Hallelujah, for I shall be like him, 
and I shall see him as he is ! O mo- 
ther," she said, ^^ shout, and praise 
the Lord with me!" and told what 
transporting joys she was then in, 
and what she had seen and enjoyed. 
This triumph lasted for some twenty 
or thirty minutes. Then waving her 
hand three times, she cried out, " O 
the triumphs of grace! O the tri- 
umphs of grace ! O the triumphs of 



THE EARLY DEAD. 17 

grace !" As her hand fell she shout- 
ed, ^^ Hallelujah ! hallelujah! Glory 
to God in the highest!" for some 
time. Then reaching one hand to 
her mother, and the other to her fa- 
ther, she said, '^Farewell, father! 
farewell, mother!" Giving her sis- 
ter her hand, she said, ^^ Farewell, 
Josephine : — all meet me in heaven." 
Then burst forth another shout of 
triumph. After this she spoke no 
more ; and at a quarter past ten that 
evening, without a sigh, she fell 
asleep in Jesus. 

COPY OF ONE OF HER LETTERS. 

December 25, 1843. 

Dear Mother^ — The anniversary 
of our Saviour's advent interests us 
here ; and as it is the desire of our 
teacher that we should present a 



18 THE EARLY DEAD. 

specimen of our penmanship on this 
occasion, I shall try and grant his 
request, by writing a few lines on 
the anniversary of our Saviour's birth. 
I hope I shall be able to address you 
properly on this memorable occasion. 
I hope that my remarks will not be 
an unwelcome Christmas present. 
With what joy should we hail this 
Christmas-day, when we contemplate 
the Saviour's birth, who came from 
heaven to earth to suffer and die 
for us ! Christ is the source from 
whom all comforts flow. Depart 
from him, and we are lost; wander- 
ing about without home, hope, or 
peace. From him proceed all the 
blessings of man, his high ambition, 
and his strength in adversity, his 
comfort in affliction, his pleasure in 
prosperity. But out of all the abun- 



THE EARLY DEAD. 19 

dance of his goodness to man, the 
crown of eternal life which is offered 
us is greatest. Though he bestows 
all the blessings of earth upon us, 
yet without himself we are as poor 
as a Lazarus. Let him take from us 
what he will, but give his love, and 
we are rich, — richer than all the 
treasures of Egypt could make us 
without it. Mother, I suppose you 
know how they celebrate this dayin 
most of our churches ; but I will just 
state here that it is usually kept by 
prayer, singing, dialogues and ad- 
dresses by the children of the sab- 
bath school. 

One of our much-loved ones, who 
was with us last year in our festival, 
is now gone to join the blood-washed 
throng, and some others vdth her, 
who gave evidence that they tri- 



20 THE EARLY DEAD. 

umphed through faith in the Saviour. 
May this be a day long to be remem 
bered. 

In Christian love and affection, 
Your affectionate Daughter, 

Catharine M. Williams. 

Her mind must have been placed 
much upon the subject of death. 
Upon the most of her books and 
p^ers were written '^Victory over 
death." 

May all who read this brief me- 
moir also become more than con- 
querors through Him that hath loved 
them, and given himself for them. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 21 



II.— MARY ABIGAIL GARFIELD. 

Mary Abigail, the subject of this 
sketch, was the only daughter of 
Harrison and Mary M. Garfield. Hav- 
ing been for several years their only 
child, she had obtained a choice 
place in the affections of her parents ; 
and they in return had watched and 
guided her unfolding mind vdth a 
diligence which was repaid by a be- 
coming modesty and affectionate obe- 
dience to their commands, and an 
encouraging prospect that her life (if 
spared) would be adorned with virtue 
and piety. And they had fondly hoped 
that in her they should have a daugh- 
ter to comfort them in their declining 
years, and bless them in their dying 
hour. 



22 THE EARLY DEAD. 

She was always a lover of the 
Lord's house, and had a peculiar at- 
tachment for the sabbath school. Her 
punctuality at the house of prayer, 
and her diligence in getting to her 
place in the sabbath school ; — her 
becoming seriousness, characterized 
by cheerfulness, often attracted my 
attention, and I frequently said to 
myself. There is a heart that God is 
refining, and a soul that he is fitting 
for the abodes of the blessed. 

She had selected for her teacher 
one that was devotedly pious ; — one 
who was always present with her 
class, and whose piety had a power 
to attract, and a real charm. She 
loved her scholars, and that love was 
repaid by their presence and respect. 

Such was Abigail's love for her 
teacher and her school, that I have 



THE EARLY DEAD. 23 

often met her on sabbaths which 
were stormy, when but few got to 
church, plodding her way with cheer- 
ful steps to the place she loved. 
Teacher and scholar were seldom 
absent. 

During a revival season in this 
place last fall, she, with others, was 
evidently a subject of awakening 
grace ; and though she was thought 
to be too young to be encouraged to 
make an open profession of religion, 
— fearing that, like others, she might 
fall back, and bring a reproach upon 
the cause, — ^yet it was evident that 
impressions were made upon her 
mind which were lasting. They were 
brought out in her dying moments, to 
the great satisfaction of her friends. 

In three short days from perfect 
health she was fitted for the grave, 



24 THE EARLY DEAD. 

and was robed in the livery of the 
dead. On the thitd sabbath in April 
she was, with her mates, mingling in 
the exercises of the sabbath school: 
the next sabbath her remains were 
brought to the same place, followed 
by her sabbath school, and a large 
procession of weeping friends. 

During her sickness disease raged 
violently, and reason was, at times, 
dethroned. There were moments 
when her mind was calm and com- 
posed, and she conversed freely with 
her friends. On one of these occa- 
sions I asked her, '^ Do you love the 
Saviour, and do you think he loves 
you r She replied, '' Yes." " If he 
should see fit to call you away, are 
you willing to die?" ^^Yes." ^^f 
you die, do you think you will go to 
heaven?" ^^I don't know: I hope I 



THE EARLY DEAD. 25 

shall." ^^What shall I tell the sab- 
bath school for you?" ^^Tell them 
to meet me in heaven." 

The night before she died she 
prayed fervently for several minutes, 
saying, "O Lord, if it is thy will that 
I should get well again, I should 
like to get well ; — but if I must die, 
forgive me all my sins, and take me 
home to heaven !" 

After this she became happy, and 
was resigned to death. She said to 
her mother, " O mother, mother, how 
I love you ! I love everybody!" She 
then kissed her parents, and bid them 
farewell. Several times she sung 
parts of interesting hymns, which she 
had learned, and entreated others 
to join with her in singing. A part 
of one verse which I heard her sing, 
was, — 



26 THE EARLY DEAD. 

When my heart it believed, 
What a joy I received ; — 
What a heaven in Jesus's name i 

Thus lived and died one of our 
young and esteemed sabbath-school 
scholars, aged twelve years. In her 
death her parents are bereaved of an 
only and affectionate daughter, our 
sabbath school of one of its most 
punctual attendants. But we are all 
confident that our loss is her infinite 
gain ; — ^that she has joined the so- 
ciety of multitudes who have been 
brought to God through sabbath- 
school instrumentality. 

John A. Sillick. 

LeCf Mass., 1846. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 27 



III.— SARAH M. DARROW. 

My Dear Young Friends, — ^You 
know that life is short and uncer- 
tain. Now, can you tell me why all 
men die ? Is it because they wish to 
die ? No : for they will do every 
thing they can in order to save their 
lives. The Bible tells us the reason 
why all men die. It is because death 
hath passed upon all men, in that all 
have sinned. Sin is the cause of 
death ; and as all men, by nature, 
are sinful, therefore they must die. 
Should we not, then, hate sin, which 
is the occasion of death, and should 
we not cease to do anything which 
is sinful? 

There are a great many children, 
as well as men and women, who are 



28 



THE EARLY DEAD. 



afraid to die. They cannot bear the 
thought of being separated from their 
kind parents and friends, whom they 
love very much, and of being left 
av^ay off alone in the gloomy grave- 
yard. But notwithstanding death is 
such a solemn thing, and the grave 
is so dark and lonely, yet there are 
some who are not afraid to die. You 
have, no doubt, read in some of the 
interesting little books in the Sunday- 
school library, of children who were 
willing to die, and what it was that 
made them willing to bid their friends 
farewell, and be laid in the silent 
grave. I presume that you like to 
read about good little children. I 
will, therefore, tell you about a pious 
little girl whom I saw on her death- 
bed, and followed to the grave. 
Sarah Matilda Darrow was nine 



THE EARLY DEAD. 29 

years, six months, and three days 
old when she died. She hved in 
Peekskill, a pleasant and flourishing 
village, situated on the bank of the 
Hudson River, about fifty miles from 
New- York. Her parents were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and early taught her the 
fear of the Lord. You ought to be 
very thankful if you have pious pa- 
rents, who tell you the way to be 
good and happy, and morning and 
evening call their family together 
for religious instruction and prayer. 
There are many little children whose 
parents are not pious, and who never 
say anything about religion, nor ever 
read and pray with their family. 

As soon as Sarah Matilda was old 
enough she was conducted to the 
sabbath school, of which she con- 



30 THE EARLY DEAD. 

tinued a member as long as she 
lived. She was so fond of going to 
sabbath school, that it was with diffi- 
culty she could be prevailed on to 
remain at home when her health was 
so feeble that her kind parents thought 
it not prudent for her to attend. She 
was very much attached to her 
teacher, — very often speaking of her 
during her last illness, and manifesting 
great pleasure whenever she called 
to see her. I hope that you are all 
as fond of going to sabbath school as 
was this dear little girl. What a pri- 
vilege it is to have the opportunity 
of learning what God says to us in 
his holy word ! What a precious 
book is the Bible which you study at 
sabbath school! It is the voice of 
the blessed Saviour unto you, telling 
you what you ought to believe, what 



THE EARLY DEAD. 31 

you ought to love, what jou ought 
to do, and what it is your privilege 
to enjoy. O, then, read this holy 
volume every day, and be careful to 
follow its divine teachings ! 

** Sacred volume ! may thy pages 
So point out to me the way. 
That when wanes the lapse of ages, 
I may meet a glorious day !" 

The instructions which Sarah Ma- 
tilda received from her parents and 
at the sabbath school were not in 
vain. Often, during her life, would 
she converse on the subject of reli- 
gion, particularly with her mother. 
Not unfrequently would she leave 
her playmates, and join the company 
of her mother, saying, ^^ I mean to be 
good ; for then my parents will love 
me, and God will love me too." 
Then she would take some good 



32 THE EARLY DEAD. 

book, and read, while her asso- 
ciates were engaged in their amuse- 
ments. 

So sweet and amiable was her dis- 
position, and so kind and affectionate 
was her manner, that she was loved 
by all who knew her. Now, dear 
children, I hope that you will not 
spend all your time in play, but oc- 
cupy a portion of it in reading good 
books, of which you will find a great 
many in the Sunday-school library. 

One subject about which this little 
girl often conversed was death. Now, 
there are some folks who seem never 
to think about dying, and going into 
eternity; but good folks often medi- 
tate on the time when they shall 
enter the world of spirits. On ex- 
amining her scrap-book, the follow- 
ing sweet hymn was found, inscribed 



THE EARLY DEAD. 33 

by her own hand but a few days 
before her last illness : — 

** There is an hour when I must die, 

Nor do I know how soon 'twill come ; 
How many children young as I 

Are caird by death to hear their doom ! 

^' Let me improve the hours I have, 
Before the day of grace is fled : 
There 's no repentance in the grave, 
No pardon offer'd to the dead. 

'* O that my eyes may closed be 

To what becomes me not to see ! 
That deafness may possess my ear 
To what concerns me not to hear !" 

In the early part of May, 1845, 
Sarah Matilda was taken severely ill. 
During the first few days of her sick- 
ness she felt desirous to recover, that 
she might live to grow up. But the 
second week of her illness, when her 
father asked her if she was willing to 
die, she closed her eyes a moment, 
as if engaged in prayer, and then 

3 



34 THE EARLY DEAD. 

looking at him, she calmly replied in 
the affirmative ; which willingness 
she continued to manifest the re- 
maining seven weeks that she lin- 
gered before her death. She con- 
versed with great composure about 
dying, and entering eternity ; evincing 
a maturity of mind far exceeding her 
age. She exercised great patience ; 
never uttering one murmur during 
her protracted and suffering illness. 
As long as she was able, she studied 
her Sunday-school lesson, and read 
the Sunday-School Advocate ; and 
when she could no longer read her- 
self, she insisted on having the Ad- 
vocate read to her till her decease. 
Much of her time she spent in pray- 
er, frequently remarking to her pa- 
rents, ^^If we ever go to heaven, we 
must pray much." My young read- 



THE EARLY DEAD. 35 

ers, you have all been taught by your 
sabbath-school teachers to pray. And 
I hope none of you ever go to bed at 
night, or get up in the morning, with- 
out kneeling down by your bedside, 
and praying to the Lord Jesus Christ. 
I hope you will never forget to pray. 
Remember, '4f we ever go to heaven, 
we must pray much." 

Three weeks before her death she 
distributed her keepsakes among 
her brothers, sisters, and little asso- 
ciates ; and then requested that she 
might be buried in the Methodist bu- 
rying ground, right by the side of her 
grandmothers grave. Thus possessed 
of perfect consciousness, she looked 
forward to the hour when she should 
close her eyes in death. On one oc- 
casion her physician speaking encou- 
ragingly of her recovery, she inti- 



36 THE EARLY DEAD. 

mated her strong conviction that her 
sickness was unto death. About three 
days preceding her death she called 
for her father, and when he came 
into the room, she looked up to him, 
and said, '' I want you to pray with 
me ;" and then turning to the other 
members of the family who were 
present, she requested them all to 
join in prayer. On her father's ask- 
ing her if she wished him to pray 
that she might recover, she replied, 
^^ O no ; I am going to die soon !" 
After they had joined in prayer she 
spoke to all in the room individually, 
bidding them an affectionate ^^good- 
by;" and then desired that the ab- 
sent members of the family might be 
called, that she might take her leave 
of them. A few moments after this 
affecting scene she was attacked with 



THE EARLY DEAD. 37 

spasms, which continued, except at 
short intervals, as long as she lived. 
During these intervals she appeared 
to retain her consciousness, and was 
repeatedly heard to whisper, '^Bless- 
ed Saviour ! blessed Saviour !" And 
when her little heart had ceased to 
beat, and her face was pale and cold 
in death, there was a peaceful look, 
which seemed to say, 

*' There 's nothing terrible in death 
To those who go to heaven." 

Now, children, I suppose if you 
knew that you would die very soon, 
you would wish to feel just as that 
, little girl did ; that you would like to 
be able to address that gracious Re- 
deemer, who took little children in 
his arms, and blessed them, saying, 
'* Of such is the kingdom of heaven;" 
and say to him, ** Blessed Saviour ! 



38 THE EARLY DEAD. 

blessed Saviour !" Well, if you will 
do as she did, — if you will give your 
heart to him, and pray that he will 
have mercy on you, and trust in him, 
and strive to do his holy will, — you 
will be prepared to die. 

Her funeral was attended on the 
6th of July, 1845. This was a most 
solemn occasion. At the appointed 
hour her remains were followed, by 
her friends and the sabbath school 
of which she was a member, to the 
church, where a discourse was deli- 
vered to a very large and deeply- 
attentive audience ; after which her 
body was conveyed to the spot which 
she had selected for her burial, in the 
rear of the church, and deposited in 
the silent grave. It was, indeed, to 
the surviving members of that family 
a trying hour. It is painful for 



THE EARLY DEAD. 39 

affectionate parents to bid adieu to 
their little ones, and consign their 
bodies to the grave. The writer has 
been called to stand by the coffin 
containing the clay form of a dear 
little boy ; and that lifeless body was 
so fair and beautiful in death, that 
it was hard to bury it up in the 
ground. 

But while we stood by the grave, 
and saw the remains of Sarah Ma- 
tilda lowered into it, and the earth 
placed upon her coffin, we felt not 
only to weep at our loss, but also to 
rejoice in the confident belief that 
our loss was her gain. The soul 
that once dwelt in her body did not 
go down into that grave. No : the 
grave received only the mortal body, 
while the 'immortal spirit went to 
dwell with Christ in paradise. Nor 



40 THE EARLY DEAD. 

is her body always to remain in the 
(lark grave. The blessed Jesns will 
watch over the graves of all his 
saints, and at last will raise their bo- 
dies from the long sleep of death, 
and take them to heaven. 

Now, my yonng friends, I suppose 
that you would not miss of heaven if 
you could have in exchange all the 
beautiful things which you ever saw. 
Well, you need not, if you will love 
and serve God while you live in this 
world. There, though you have never 
seen Sarah Matilda Darrow on earth, 
you will meet her, and join with her in 
the worship of that blissful place : — 
there, also, you will join all your dear 
friends who shall have gone thither 
before you; and you will, with joy, 
receive all those who shall follow you 
to that holy place. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 41 

Now, dear children, I must take my 
leave of you. Many of you who read 
this brief notice I never expect to see 
till the day of judgment. Let me, then, 
before I close, entreat you not to neg- 
lect religion till you grow old. Recol- 
lect the Bible says, '^ Remember thy 
Creator in the days of thy youth." 
Read God's blessed word; obey his 
voice ; pray daily unto him. Then, 
though I may never see you on earth, 
I trust I shall meet you in heaven. 

S. C. Perry. 

PeekskiU, N. F., May, 1846. 



42 THE EARLY DEAD. 



lY.— JULIETTE 



Juliette had entered her seventh 
year, replete with hfe and activity, 
buoyant with hope and animation; 
her countenance beaming with the 
ray of inteUigence, while the ruddy 
cheek indicated health and vigor. 

Juliette had now arrived at an inte- 
resting period of life, when the ex- 
panding germ begins more fully to 
develop itself, — when the intellect 
and conscience are 'susceptible of 
being molded into almost any form. 

She was artless and reserved in 
her manners ; and although cheerful 
and happy, was thoughtful and con- 
siderate. She was^^ver faithful to a 
charge committed to her trust ; so 
that her parents and friends had 



THE EARLY DEAD. 43 

learned to feel secure that directions 
given to her would be fulfilled with 
scrupulous care. She listened with 
intense eagerness when any narra- 
tive was related to her ; but when 
the subject of death, or a future retri- 
bution, was presented to her, a calm 
seriousness pervaded her counte- 
nance, and she seemed to recoil 
from the thought that she must ever 
become an inmate of the cold and 
silent grave. 

But this was merely a ternporary 
sensation. When her frame began 
to yield itself to the ruthless hand 
of disease, her intellect seemed to 
expand, her understanding to enlarge, 
and while her body was suffering, 
her mind was perfectly composed: 
her views concerning death were 
clear and satisfactory. Upon being 



44 THE EARLY DEAD. 

told by one of her friends that they 
were afraid she could not live, she 
replied, she was willing to die if sh'e 
was sure of going to heaven : then 
she could see her little brother. This 
was at the commencement of her 
sickness ; and while the disease was 
pursuing its course she seemed to 
brighten for the great transition 
from this world to the next. At one 
time she said, ^' Christ died for us all. 
It says in the Bible that he loves Ht- 
tie children ; then he loves me :" and 
upon seeing a picture of Jesus, she 
reached for it; and on obtaining it, 
she pressed it to her dying lips. Upon 
being asked if she loved Jesus, she 
replied in the affirmative. 

At another time she said, "I am 
going to a better place." And when 
apparently in the arms of death, she 



THE EARLY DEAD. 45 

was heard to say, '' Jesus ! Jesus !" 
Her young heart seemed to overflow 
with love, — love to^God, and love to 
all around her ; and in this state she 
closed her eyes in death, after a short 
illness of four days. 

And now she is no more. Her 
active limbs are moldering to dust; 
her body has returned to its mother 
earth, while her spirit has gone to 
God, who gave it. During the short 
time she was permitted to remain on 
earth she realized all that is worth 
obtaining ; and had she lived to the 
age of threescore years and ten, she 
could not have had a more satisfac- 
tory assurance of her acceptance with 
God, and that he will not reject little 
children. 

True, it was an irreparable Iqss to 
her friends ; and, doubtless, her name 



46 THE EARLY DEAD. 

will be long remembered by the mem- 
bers of her class in Sunday school, 
with whom she assembled to receive 
instruction concerning the way to 
heaven, and to join in anthems of 
praise to their great Creator : — a com- 
pany emblematic of the assembly of 
the saints in the upper sanctuary, with 
whom she is now connected. 

L. R H. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 47 



v.— E LIZA BOWEN. 

It is with mingled feelings of re- 
gret and pleasure that I notice the 
death of Eliza Bow en, an infant 
scholar attached to the Vestry-street 
school : — ^regret, because the school 
has lost one of its brightest orna- 
ments ; pleasure, on account of her 
triumphant death. 

At an early age she spoke of reli- 
gion, and manifested, by her conver- 
sation, the lasting impression it had 
made upon her mind. She often 
spoke of it in terms of praise ; de- 
scribing, with earnestness and joy, its 
effects upon her heart. 

Though suffering intensely from 
that dire disease, consumption, she 
seemed perfectly calm and resigned 



48 THE EARLY DEAD. 

to the will of that God who rules 
with an aH-wise providence, often 
exclaiming, "Mother, dear mother, 
my heavenly Father does all things 
well ! I love my heavenly Father ! 
"Will I not see my sister in heaven, 
mother? I shall soon be where all 
tears shall be wiped from my eyes." 

She spoke with pleasure of the 
hope she had of a blessed immor- 
tality, and expressed no desire to 
remain in this vale of tears. 

After an illness of about a year, 
during which she suffered with Chris- 
tian fortitude, she sweetly fell asleep 
in Jesus at the age of five years. 

The following hymn was one which 
she often sung : — - 

" My God is the Father of all,— 
The Father of mercy and love ; 
He pities the works of his hands, 
And reigns in the heavens above. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 49 

" Not a sparrow can fall to the ground 
Without his protection and care ; 
And with such a kind Father and friend 
What have his children to fear ? 

" We have nothing to fear but sin ; — 
'Tis sin that displeases our Lord : 
And if we disobey his commands, 
Like a father he uses the rod." 

J. E. J. 

4 



50 THE EARLY DEAD, 



VL— GEORGE W. ANTHONY. 

Died, on the 15th May, 1846, at 
Holmes' Hole, Duke's co., Mass., 
George West, son of Abraham and 
Fanny Anthony, aged fourteen years. 
Little George was called to endure 
intense bodily suiferings through the 
greater part of his lifa. He possessed 
an amiable disposition; was unas- 
suming in his manners, and much 
esteemed by all who knew him. He 
was much attached to the sabbath 
school, and whenever it was possible 
he was sure to appear, with his les- 
son well prepared, and ready to 
listen with attention to the instruc- 
tions of his teacher. He loved his 
books. The Bible and the Sunday- 
School Advocate were his constant 



THE EARLY DEAD. 51 

companions. Previous to his last 
severe illness he took great pains to 
obtain subscribers for the Sunday- 
School Advocate, and was anxious 
that every one should read it. 

He was dedicated to the Lord by 
baptism in his infancy. In the tenth 
year of his age he obtained pardon 
of his sins through the merits of a 
merciful Saviour, and retained an 
abiding evidence of his acceptance 
with God until the last. 

During the last year of his life 
he was unable to walk ; but often 
said he had rather be confined to 
his bed, and enjoy religion, than 
without it, — as many of the boys 
in the streets were, — ^be able to 
play with them. On the sabbath, 
while others were enjoying the pri- 
vileges of public worship, he would 



59 THE EARLY DEAD. 

often desire his mother to read, sing, 
and pray with him at home. 

He endured his sufferings with pa- 
tience and Christian resignation; and 
when death came he was ready to 
depart in peace. On the 17th his 
remains were conveyed to the silent 
grave, attended by an interesting com- 
pany of sabbath-school children and 
sympathizing friends. 

God grant that all the readers of 
this sketch may terminate their earthly 
careers with equal peace and triumph ! 

A. B. Wheeler. 

June 29, 1846. 



I 



THE EARLY DEAD. 53 



VIL— CATHARINE ELIZA BAKER, HER SISTER 
AND BROTHER. 

Died, in Liberty, Frederick co., 
Md., within the space of two weeks, 
of scarlet fever, William Grafton, 
Sarah Rebecca, and Catharine Eliza, 
all children of Henry and Rebecca 
Baker. 

This distressing providence came 
upon those devoted parents all in 
the short space of two weeks ; and 
only one, an infant of a few weeks 
old, is left to fill the distressing void. 
William Grafton was eighteen 
months and thirteen days old; Sa- 
rah Rebecca, three years and twenty- 
three days ; and Catharine Eliza, six 
years the morning on which she ex- 
changed this world of suffering for a 



54 THE EARLY DEAD. 

home in heaven. It was not my pri- 
vilege to visit these lovely and inno- 
cent children during their sickness, 
(being at conference in Baltimore at 
the time ;) but having been intimate 
in the family the preceding year, and 
of course acquainted v^ith the chil- 
dren, I am desirous that a record to 
their memory should be made. 

Of the two youngest little of im- 
portance can be said, except that 
little Sarah was always dutiful to 
her parents, and loved her sabbath 
school, always attending if possible. 
She loved and obeyed her teachers. 
She indeed was one of those little 
girls whom everybody loves, because 
she possessed a grace and dignity of 
behavior of which but few of her 
age could boast; and long will her 
interesting manners and conversation 



THE EARLY DEAD. 55 

be remembered by those who beheld 
and heard her. Little Sarah had not 
only been taught to love her sabbath 
school, and to try to profit by it, so 
early in life, but also to do something 
for the "poor heathen'^ 

Accordingly, she set about her 
interesting work ; and at the time, of 
her death had in her little " mission- 
ary treasury" sixty-one cents, (be- 
sides former remittances,) which are 
now forwarded to the Missionary 
Society for the benefit of those for 
whom her little heart was taught to 
feel, and her little tongue to plead. 
May it not be said of her in truth, as 
was said by the Saviour of "little 
children," of the woman who gave 
her two mites ^ " She hath done what 
she could r^ She cast her last offer- 
ing into the missionary treasury; — 



56 THE EARLY DEAD. 

an offering which will endure and 
brighten to a crown. Her memory 
rvill he blessed. 

But we now turn to the case of 
Catharine^ the eldest of the three. 
She was, indeed, a peculiar child for 
her age ; and although some may 
incline to the opinion that children 
cannot understand religion, either in 
its theory or experience, yet the life 
and death of little Catharine are surely 
evidence to the contrary. As to her 
life, — ^for one so young her mind was 
stored well with useful knowledge, 
with wholesome truth. She knew 
her duty to her parents, — ^her duty to 
her God. Her disposition was docile 
and yielding^ and her "patience" had 
indeed its "perfect work" in all her 
affliction. Those who waited upon 
her in her sickness can testify that 



THE EARLY DEAD. 57 

she endured her sufferings more like 
an experienced Christian than one of 
her tender years. Her sufferings 
were exceedingly intense ; for, as I 
am informed, her disease had reduced 
her to little less than a mass of cor- 
ruption ; yet the only word of com- 
plaint which passed her lips was, " O 
my throat ! my throat is so sore !" 
But amid all her suffering she never 
once forgot her sick, delicate, and 
afflicted mother. Most soothingly, in- 
deed, would she endeavor to comfort 
her troubled heart, by expressions 
of affection and tenderness, saying, 
" Never mind, mother, my throat don't 
hurt me now ; I don't feel much pain 
now," — always evidently spoken with 
a view to the comfort of her mother, 
who appeared to be all her concern. 
She never refused but once to take 



58 THE EARLY BEAD. 

anything that was offered her, and that 
was a httle mulled wine. This she 
refused, modestly saying, "No, I don't 
drink anything ;" but at the solicita- 
tions of those who waited on her she 
soon yielded, taking it only as a medi- 
cine. The secret of the matter was, 
little Catharine was an uncompro- 
mising member of the Juvenile Tem- 
perance Society, young as she was, 
and would not break her pledge. She, 
too, loved her sabbath school, and 
would not absent herself without suf- 
ficient cause — she was obedient and 
attentive to her teachers, and learn- 
ed the will of God. She was also 
interested in another branch of holy 
and benevolent enterprise — the mis- 
sionary cause lay near her youthful 
heart, O how much joy did her in- 
telligent countenance bespeak, when 



THE EARLY DEAD. 59 

one and another would give her some- 
thing for the cause she loved ! The 
money collected in her " missionary 
box" at the time of her death amount- 
ed to $1.50, which, in connection with 
her little sister's offering, and that of 
her little brother William Grafton, is 
forwarded to the treasurer of the Mis- 
sionary Society, that it may benefit 
those for whom it was intended — 
" the poor little heathen children'^ A 
short time before her death, she beg- 
ged her aunt to let her get down 
on her knees at her bedside, and say 
her prayers. This was truly an af- 
fecting sight — she audibly and de- 
voutly sent up her prayer in trembling 
yet burning accents, which caused 
every heart to feel. She had been 
taught always to remember her bro- 
ther and sister, when she prayed. 



60 THE EARLY DEAD. 

When she came to, '^ Lord bless me," 
she paused and added, " and my 
dear httle sister," meaning the babe ; 
her other sister and brother having 
gone before her to the children's rest 
in heaven. While thus engaged in 
her ardent and deep devotions, she 
evidently felt all she had expressed ; 
for when she arose from her knees, 
tears were pursuing each other down 
her feverish cheeks. She had always 
been exceedingly kind to her brother 
and sister, never speaking harshly, or 
in unkind terms to them, and was 
never known at any time to raise her 
hand to either. It has been truly said 
of these children, " They were plea- 
sant and lovely in their lives, and in 
their death they were not divided." 
It is remarked by one, of Catharine, 
that a short time before her death, she 



THE EARLY DEAD, 61 

signified a wish to get well to com- 
fort her mother; but expressed a 
stronger desire to go to heaven to be 
with her sister; and that wish was 
gratified ; and then together, as they 
were wont to do on earth, she cele- 
brated her birthday in one of those 
'^ mansions" prepared for the blessed. 

April 30, 1846. 



62 THE EARLY DEAD. 



nil.— HANNAH A. HUSE. 

Hannah Adeline Huse, daughter 
of Joseph and Hannah Huse, aged 
eight years, five months, and fifteen 
days, died in Bath, Me., May 5, 1846. 

She was a lovely and interesting 
child, very fond of the sabbath school, 
kind to her brothers and sisters, and 
obedient to her parents. 

In her sickness she conversed vi^ith 
composure about death, said she was 
not afraid to die, and is now gone to 
Him who said, '' Suffer little children 
to come unto me." O. H. - 



THE EARLY DEAD. 63 



IX.— ELIZABETH S. EDWARDS. 

Elizabeth Smith, only surviving 
child of Vinal N. and Rachel S. Ed- 
v^ards, died in Providence, R. I., July 
18th, in the tv^elfth year of her age. 
This is the seventh time the Lord has 
written these parents childless; but 
they sorrow not as those who have 
no hope. All their children are safe- 
ly housed in the mansions above. 
Elizabeth had been a member of the 
sabbath school in Chestnut-street se- 
veral years, where, though naturally 
diffident, she had greatly endeared 
herself to her teacher, and those with 
whom she was on terms of intimacy. 
On my first visit to her sick bed, 
though reserved in communication, I 
gathered she was cherishing serious 



64 THE EARLY DEAD. 

thoughts, and withal that she was not 
perfectly reconciled to the idea of so 
soon leaving the world. But as her 
disease (consumption) progressed, and 
she was apprised that she must soon 
bid adieu to earth, she, after a short 
season of depression, made the sur- 
render of herself fully to the Lord. 
To her parents, with whom she con- 
versed most freely, she gave very 
satisfactory evidence that the Saviour 
had numbered her with his jewels. 
On one occasion she sung with much 
animation, while several friends were 
standing round, 

*' When I've been there ten thousand years,*' &c. 

On being assured by her mother, at 
her request, that she had not only for- 
given her all she had said and done 
amiss, but had prayed the Lord also 
to forgive her, she replied, she be- 



THE EARLY ^EAD. 65 

lieved he had already done it, and 
then, affectionately embracing her, 
declared herself happy in the thought 
that she was forgiven. Her happy 
state of mind was also indicated by 
her selection of particular portions of 
Scripture and verses of hymns, to be 
read to her, which treated on dying 
and heaven. She desired that I would 
give her love to her sabbath-school 
mates, and request them to meet her 
in heaven. At one time, when she 
was thought to be dying, her afflicted 
father asked her how she felt. With 
difficulty she replied, ''My pain will 
soon be over," and added, '' O death, 
where is thy sting ? O grave, where 
is thy victory ?" On another occasion, 
seeing her parents weep, she desired 
that they would not do so, and re- 
nrmrked, " What a happy time it will 

5 



66 THE EARLY DEAD. 

be when parents and children meet 
in heaven to part no more !" 

Thus early and thus happily did 
this dear child terminate her earthly 
career, and enter upon her eternal 
state. 

" This lovely bud so young and fair, 
CalPd hence by early doom, 
Just came to show how sweet a flower 
In Paradise w^ould bloom." 

It should be remarked, that though 
greatly indebted to the sabbath school 
for her religious impressions, having 
attended regularly from the time she 
v^as three years old to her last illness, 
she was not wholly so. Her parents 
were not of the number who commit 
the religious education of their child- 
ren entirely to this precarious agency. 
Our bereaved brother and sister, ad- 
monished by the premature death of 
all their children, had early striven to 



THE EARLY DEAD. 67 

imbue the mind of Elizabeth with 
the fear of God, and often was she 
taught at home by precept and exam- 
ple to bow the knee in prayer. 

On the day of her funeral, the day- 
school of which Elizabeth was a mem- 
ber came with their teachers, in all 
probably three hundred, to look on 
her remains. Many also of our sab- 
bath school followed in procession to 
the grave. The scene was affecting; 
may it be sanctified to the good of 
all! J. B. HusTED. 



68 THE EARLY DEAD. 



X.— WATSON G. SHEARS. 

Watson, son of Rev. A. G. Shears, 
of the Troy Conference, was born in 
Dutchess county, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1834. 
He was baptized in infancy by Rev. 
R. Wymond. One preacher said, 
" There ought not to be conferred on 
one so young the name of so great a 
man as Watson !" Some may think 
he has been worthy even of the 7iame 
of the good and great Watson. His 
constitution was dehcate and fragile 
from his infancy, and more than once 
his life was despaired of He was 
scarcely a year old when he assumed 
the attitude of prayer during family 
devotions, and, at the family altar, 
ever afterward, he was found on his 



THE EARLY DEAD. 69 

knees before God. He was remark- 
able for his conscientiousness and 
love of the truth. Sprightly and joy- 
ful for one of his health, his juvenile 
years passed away, affording no little 
pleasure to the family circle and the 
companions of his early days. Such 
was his sobriety and manly tone, that 
he, with facility, became the chosen 
companion of those who were by 
several years his seniors, as well as 
of such as were younger than himself. 
He found many friends, juvenile and 
adult, wherever he resided, and leaves 
not a few on this isle. His trustwor- 
thiness was great. His parents did 
not fear to trust him with confidential 
matters, nor to send him abroad with 
scores of dollars. He was one of the 
most agreeable juvenile traveling 
companions, rendering our short jour- 



70 THE EARLY DEAD. 

neys very pleasant by his apt con- 
versation. 

In the year 1841, when residing in 
Middle town, Conn., while I was hold- 
ing a series of meetings at Moodns, 
he, seeing others go forward to the 
altar for prayer, wished to go too ; 
but too fearful as to his youth, I did 
not encourage him to do so. He 
seemed to be there awakened anew 
in a class meeting. During a revival 
at Ponset, the next year, he was so 
interested as to write, on my return 
home, after inquiry each time, the 
number forward for prayers, the num- 
ber converted, &c. 

Choosing myself to be '^ the guide 
of his youth," he was not sent to 
school, it is judged, in all one year. 
Keeping in view his feeble constitu- 
tion, and the want of daily systematic 



THE EARLY DEAD. 71 

efforts by his teacher, his Hterarj pro- 
gress was very satisfactory to his 
parents. His education was not bound 
by the circle of mere book knowledge. 
Independent of books, he was no tyro. 
His love to his parents and fondness 
for their society were not excelled. 

In 1840 he took the Youth's Tem- 
perance Advocate, and became a mem- 
ber of the children's cold water army. 
Many of his youthful fellow-soldiers 
still remember, no doubt, the circum- 
stances. The church in Middletown 
was filled principally with children 
and youth. After a lecture by Mr. 
Warren, he went among the crowd 
of children for volunteers to join the 
army. Watson offered himself, at the 
same time handing " General Warren" 
a slip of paper with his name, there 
being written over it, "Cold water 



72 THE EARLY DEAD. 

is the drink for me." Mr. Warren, 
after reaching the pulpit, asked the 
children if they would like to hear 
the contents of the little paper in 
his hand. After their response, he 
read it. Then, at their request, the 
name, Watson Shears, — when a gene- 
ral and hearty shout ensued from the 
children. His young friends will re- 
member, from his infancy, a glass of 
cold water was his beverage, morn- 
ing, noon, and night. I find, laid 
away carefully by his own hand, 
several numbers of Watson's temper- 
ance paper, preserved now several 
years ; and also his Missionary Advo- 
cate, and some books that we love the 
more for having been once his com- 
panions. Among those he most v alued 
were his Bible and hymn-book ; also 
the NewHieroglyphical Bible, Child's 



THE EARLY DEAD. 73 

Book on the Soul, and the Introduc- 
tion to Porter's Rhetorical Reader. 
In the latter, he used to read with 
much interest about '^ Willy who 
died." For years he was a member 
of the sabbath school, and among its 
best scholars. He was a reader of 
our Sunday-School Advocate, and 
two years since he wrote the names 
of the subscribers on the package 
coming to us. His missionary box 
afforded the society some aid — one 
year several dollars. He had depo- 
sited with me a few dimes, which 
shall be sacred to the cause of bene- 
volence. 

Watson had ^^a meek and quiet 
spirit," and was " sober-minded.^^ His 
amiable traits of character convinced 
not a few, years since, that he was a 
Christian ; but of this his parents 



74 THE EARLY DEAD. 

were not satisfied. More means, 
prompted by warmer hearts, were 
subsequently used by the parents for 
the salvation of their children. On 
the last night of the Grand Isle camp 
meeting, at about midnight, Watson, 
with others, one a lad like himself, 
presented himself at one of the Grand 
Isle tents, asking an interest in the 
prayers of Christians. After about 
an hour spent in strong cries and 
tears, in seeking mercy by faith in 
Christ Jesus, he was enabled to be- 
lieve to the saving of his soul. His 
replies to his father and others were 
perfectly satisfactory. They wept 
together — together they rejoiced ! He 
arose amid the crowd surrounding 
him, and said with his own peculiar 
modesty, **The Lord has been here 
to-night — I am more happy than I 



THE EARLY DEAD. 75 

have ever beetf before." This was 
his language again, after other means 
of grace. His conduct afterward, the 
few days he was permitted to tarry 
with us on earth, was such as be- 
comes the Christian. He prayed at 
the family altar during the absence 
of his father : indeed, he was wont to 
do so occasionally, prior to the camp 
meeting. 

The week after the camp meeting^ 
(a place endeared to him and to many,) 
he was taken ill. We did not consi- 
der him dangerously so, till two days 
before his death. His disease, as- 
suming a typhus form, bade defiance 
to his physicians and friends^ and ter- 
minated in death, on Monday, 19th of 
Oct.: he was in the 1 2th. year of his 
age. Yet we mourn not as those with- 
out hope. The Lord, by his grace, had 



76 THE EARLY DEAD. 

in some measure prejpared us for this 
great bereavement. On Monday, the 
day of his death, his father could say, 
should God "command him (living) 
to the furthest verge of the green 
earth," or, dying, to the furthest verge 
of immensity, he should be his — Wat- 
son should "go." His death-bed scene 
was one of melancholy interest. On 
the morning of the day on which he 
died, he seemed to be conversing 
about Latin, which he had studied 
some the past four years. At differ- 
ent times, during his sickness, he was 
asked, Do you pray ? His answer was 
always in the affirmative. His father 
asked him, on the afternoon of his 
death. Did you experience religion at 
the camp meeting ? His answer was 
characteristic of him, — " Yes, I ex- 
pect so !" Do you love the Saviour ? 



THE EARLY DEAD. 77 

*' Yes." Some three hours before his 
decease, his father stept into an ad- 
joining room to pray that Watson 
might be '' sanctified wholly," and that, 
for the sake of others, he might, by 
God's grace, demonstrate the power 
of religion in a dying hour more fully 
still than he had done by his meek- 
ness, patience, and humility in suffer- 
ings. Watson seemed asleep, or un- 
conscious, at the time. Soon, his 
physicians and others being present, 
he said, '' Pa !" On his father going to 
him, and grasping his hand, he ex- 
claimed, with thrilling emphasis, — ^ 
'' Happy !" Its effect may be imagined. 
It was more than sublime ! It was '^ a 
word fitly spoken." Then, as though 
communing with the world of spirits, he 
left us to our reflections on the power 
of religion on a child, passing through 



78 THE EARLY DEAD. 

the valley of the shadow of death. His 
father, when his deep emotion would 
permit him to speak, had asked, What 
makes you happy, Watson? Soon, 
partly rising from his recumbent pos- 
ture, and gasping for breath, seeming 
to have lost the child in the messenger 
from a judgment scene, choosing the 
fewest and most expressive words to 
delineate the judgment of the last 
day, as though viewing a class too 
large even among children, he said 
in broken language, but with the ut- 
most pathos and solemnity, " O, he 
won't let him go through!" Who7n 
won't he let go through? asked his 
pa. He replied, ^' The liar — he lied ! 
He won't let him pass through the 
gate — ^the pass !" His pa asked, Who 
won't let him pass ? Watson an- 
swered, '' He looks like Christ !" 



THE EARLY DEAD. 79 

Then, as though looking at those on 
Christ's right hand, Watson exclaim- 
ed, '' The CROSS ! Thejjiy! We fly ! 
We fly !" 

As we looked on his pallid counte- 
nance on Sunday, and especially on 
the morning after his death, his own 
loved Bible and hymn book, and a 
collection of varied and beautiful 
flowers, (gathered by one of his 
mates,) near his head, low in death, 
we could not but think of those 
beautiful lines : — 

" On the cold cheek of death smiles and roses are blending, 
And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb." 

" We had thought to see him gradu- 
ate at our university," said his father, 
after Watson's death; '^but," continued 
he, ^^he has graduated in glory!" 
'' Yes," said Mrs. S., " he has taken the 
highest degree!" His father, recently 



80 THE EARLY DEAD. 

getting Norton's elaborate work on as- 
tronomy, said he wished to review it, 
and it might do for Watson by and by, 
though it was anticipating a great deal. 
But now he needs no college text- 
books ; the '' Geography of the Hea- 
vens" may be learned, possibly, by 
him, by '' travels" on high, if the stars 
are to become '' his play-grounds." 
^' The memory of the just is blessed," 
as was evidenced by a crowded 
church, that listened to the truth by 
brother Starks, '' To die is gain." The 
falling tear told how much the heart 
felt. Truly did the preacher say, 
" You Avill come, dear children, to the 
sabbath school, but Watson will not 
be there P^ May they follow him as 
he followed Christ. We trust his 
death will not be without its influence 
on the children of this place. 



THE EARLY DEAD. 81 

By the special kindness of a gen- 
tleman of this island, all that was 
mortal of Watson rests in his family 
vault. His father, after the services 
at the ^^ house appointed for all living," 
felt relieved as he looked into the 
house of the dead, and gave utterance 
to the feelings of his heart, — " Fare- 
well, my boy, but not for ever /" James 
iv, 13, &c. A. G. S. 

Grand Isle, Vt., Oct 31, 1846. 

6 



82 THE EARLY DEAD. 



XL— MARY A. BURNHAM. 

Mary Adelaide Burnham, daugh- 
ter of Rev. J. D. and Clarissa M. 
Burnham, was born June 25th, 1841, 
and died Oct. 21st, 1846. She died 
of the croup, and^was sick only thirty- 
six hours. Little Adelaide was a 
deeply interesting child, of uncommon 
intellectual powers and great thought- 
fulness. Though a few days less than 
five years and three months of age, 
she was a good reader, and had made 
good proficiency in the study of geog- 
raphy. She was remarkably attached 
to the sabbath school, used to repeat 
from the Bible ten to fifteen verses 
weekly, and has been known to retire 
and weep heartily when the sabbath 
school has closed for the season. She 



THE EARLY DEAD. 83 

was a constant reader of the Sunday- 
School Advocate, and she would soon- 
er be denied almost anything than the 
privilege of spending a little time with 
this deeply interesting and highly 
useful periodical. She was very af- 
fectionate, and, as all good children 
should be, was much attached to 
her parents. She was particularly 
attached to her father, and was some- 
times allowed to go with him around 
his circuit; and when she could not 
do so, she would say, ''Father, be 
good, and preach good," and when he 
returned, would meet him at the door, 
exclaiming, " / do love my father'' 
She was on a visit with her mother 
to her aunt, in this village, when she 
died. Her short and painful sickness, 
and the absence of her father at the 
time of her departure, rendered their 



84 THE EARLY DEAD. 

bereavement deeply afflicting to^ her 
parents. 

She had her reason perfectly, 
and, with her characteristic thought- 
fulness, said, '^ I am going to heaven," 
and inquired of her mother, '' Do you 
think I shall see little Charley there?" 
(meaning a brother of hers who died 
about a year since.) 

When asked by her anxious mo- 
ther, if she was afraid to die ; she re- 
plied, ^^No." '^ Why," said her mother, 
''are you not afraid to die?" '^ Be- 
cause," said she, '^ Jesus loves me^ 
Her mother asked her what she should 
tell her father. '' Tell father to hve 
near the Lord, to preach good, to live 
faithful, and that little Adelaide has 
gone to heaven." She soon closed her 
eyes in death, about two hours before 
her dear father returned. Certainly 



THE EARLY DEAD. 85 

this was a heavy stroke to her affec- 
tionate parents, but her heavenly 
Father had need of her above ; and 
though they cannot refrain from 
mourning, yet we trust they feel to 
acknowledge his superior claim to 
her. 

I cannot but desire that all the dear 
children who read this may love the 
sabbath school, be affectionate to their 
parents, fear God, and live for heaven, 
that they may die as little Mary Ade- 
laide Burnham did. 

Jacob Leonard, Jr. 

Union Village, N. Y., Oct. 27, 1846. 



86 THE EARLY DEAD, 



XIL— JULIETTE A. KINNEY. 

Another sabbath-school scholar 
has exchanged this world of sorrow 
for a world of peace and happiness. 
Juliette, the daughter of John and 
Mary A. Kinney, departed this life 
on the 14th day of Oct., in great peace 
and with a full assurance of a glorious 
immortality. Juliette was five years 
old the first day of last September. 
She had been blessed with pious pa- 
rents who had early taught her the 
way of life and salvation, both by pre- 
cept and example. She was at a very 
early age taken by her parents to the 
sabbath school, and to this means of 
grace she delighted to go ; and both 
she and her kind parents looked for- 



THE EARLY DEAD. 87 

ward to future prospects with in- 
creasing delight : but alas ! how often 
are the hopes of man cut off! God's 
ways are not as our ways. Our dear- 
est joys and nearest friends God often 
sees fit to take from us : but as these 
parents had learned to trust in God in 
the time of prosperity, so they knew 
how to be resigned to the will of God 
in the time of afihction. Juliette was 
a child that had a kind and affection- 
ate disposition, and at a very early 
age gave signs of a strong intellect. 
She w^as taken unwell one year 
previous to her death, and for some 
time hopes were entertained that she 
would recover ; but such was the na- 
ture and progress of the disease, that 
all hopes were given up some time 
previous to her death. But the best 
of all is to be told. About one week 



88 • THE EARLY DEAD. 

previous to her death, a great change 
evidently took place in her mind ; she 
had suffered much bodily pain, and 
as death drew near, she was able to 
look to Jesus for the forgiveness of 
her sins, and it was evident that God 
had spoken peace to her soul. Her 
parents and other Christian* friends 
saw by her countenance and other 
expressions, that a great change had 
taken place, — her soul was so happy 
that she broke out and sung, clearly 
and distinctly, a verse of the hymn, 
commencing, 

" O, when shall I see Jesus, 
And dwell with him. above !" 

Such was the victory she had over 
death, that she would converse about 
dying with the utmost composure. She 
said to her mother, " I have suffered a 
great deal; but I shall not suffer 



THE EARLY DEAD. 89 

much more. I shall die, and go 
where Jesus is." At another time she 
said she would soon be w^here Alvira 
was, (her sister who had died only 
three months before,) and as death 
drew near, she, seeing her parents 
weeping, said, "Do not feel bad; I 
am going to Jesus." She said to 
her father, " Will you meet me in 
heaven?" and to her sister, " Eliza, I 
want you to meet me in heaven." Thus 
Juhette fell asleep in Jesus, without 
a struggle or a groan. Her funeral 
was attended, on the 16th of Oct., by 
a large number of friends, and a 
circle of weeping relatives. May all 
sabbath-school scholars die as peace- 
fully as did Juliette. 

John Chase. 

Redford Circuit, Troy Con., Oct, 14, 1846. 



90 THE EARLY DEAD. 



XIII.— JOHN HENRY MYER. 

John Henry, son of John and 
Ruth Myer, died at West Point, 
Nov. 1st, 1846, aged seven years. 
John Henry was early taught to fear 
the Lord. He loved to pray and sing 
hymns of praise to God, and was 
much attached to the sabbath school, 
of which he was a member. His fa- 
vorite hymns were : ^' A charge to keep 
I have ;" and, '' I am a pilgrim, and I 
am a stranger," &c. He used to sing 
one or both of these hymns almost 
every day. Two days before his de- 
cease he sung the hymn last men- 
tioned, often repeating the words, 
^'Till thy rest shall end the weary 
pilgrim's night." 

The day previous to his death, he 



THE EARLY DEAD. 91 

requested his father to hear him re- 
peat the passages of Scripture on two 
of the tickets which he last received 
at the sabbath school. One of these 
passages was the twenty-fifth verse of 
the seventy-third Psalm, '' Whom have 
I in heaven but thee, and there is none 
upon earth that I desire beside thee." 
In the afternoon of the day on which 
he died, his father asked him, '' John, 
do you love the Saviour? Do you 
desire to go to heaven?" To each of 
these questions he answered, " Yes." 
Shortly afterw^ard his father, at his 
request, kneeled down and besought 
the Lord to bless and receive his 
dying child. He died of the croup, 
and was sick only two days ; but da- 
ring that time, although he suffered 
much, he did not complain. A short 
time before he died, he raised his 



92 THE EARLY DEAD/ 

eyes and his hands almost at the 
same moment, and with a smile of 
joy overspreading his countenance, 
" quite on the verge of heaven," he 
exclaimed, ''Pretty! pretty! pretty!" 
Many prayers were offered up for 
the life of this little Sunday-school 
scholar ; but, alas ! in vain. The 
Lord saw fit to take him to dwell with 
him in heaven. 

" There is beyond the sky a heaven of joy and love, 
And holy children, when they die, go to that world 
above." 

s. s. 

West Point, Dec. 4, 1846. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

I. — Catharine M. Williams 5 

II. — Mary Abigail Garfield 21 

III.— Sarah M. Darrow 27 

IV. — Juliette 42 

V. — Eliza Bowen 47 

VI. — George W. Anthony 50 

VII. — Catharine Eliza Baker, her sister and 

brother 53 

VIII.— Hannah A. Huse 62 

IX. — Elizabeth S. Edwards 63 

X. — Watson G. Shears 68 

XL — Mary A. Burnham 82 

XII. — Juliette A. Kinney 86 

XIII.— John Henry Myer 90 



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